Hearings Set For 2 Supervisors Fired In Department Violations

LAUDERHILL -- Two Utilities Department supervisors fired last month for violating Civil Service and union agreement rules will plead their cases before the Civil Service Board.

Civil Service Board members on Wednesday agreed that John W. Scottie, former assistant utilities director, and Gene Riley, who was in charge of the water plant, are entitled to hearings before the board. Scottie`s hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16-17 and Riley`s, Sept. 21-22. The men were fired on July 15 after Mayor David Kaminsky ended an investigation.

They were charged with witness tampering in connection with a case filed against the city by a former black female utility worker charging sexual and racial discrimination. Other charges ranged from uttering anti-Semitic and racial remarks to improperly logging in overtime and instructing subordinates to repair personal equipment. The men were fired after 13 workers testified against them in sworn statements.

Val Valentine, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2942, Council 79, told board members that Scottie should not be entitled to a Civil Service Board hearing because Scottie was not hired according to Civil Service rules.

Valentine said Scottie, a 15-year municipal employee who was appointed by former Mayor Eugene Cipolloni, was not required to take an examination and his name was not taken from an eligibility list when he was promoted to assistant utilities director. ``He was appointed by the mayor. There was no test given, no eligibility list, no review of applications,`` Valentine said. Valentine said Scottie should appeal his case to the City Council, not the Civil Service Board.

Board members, however, voted to schedule Civil Service hearing dates for both men. The board can uphold the firings or reinstate the men. Its decisions are binding on the administration.

Since the firings, several utility workers have rallied to support Riley by circulating a petition that said he was unjustly fired. The petition was signed by 17 utilities employees.